"Heavenly Punishment Blade?"

Lin Mu looked at the long blade on the table, his expression pensive. "Does this blade have an origin story?"

Dusk had fallen by the time Lin Mu returned to Forgotten River Hall. Seeing Lin Mu's return, Liang Sheng and his daughter were naturally filled with a mix of surprise and joy. They were surprised that Lin Mu had returned safe and sound, as though he had merely gone out for a stroll. Their joy came from the fact that Lin Mu was unharmed, which greatly relieved them both.

Zhao Hedong, in particular, was shocked and felt even more fortunate about his earlier decision. Indeed, apart from Liang Sheng and his daughter, it was Mr. Lin and Daoist Master Qing Yu who were the most unfathomable, their origins clearly extraordinary.

Qing Yu gazed at the Heavenly Punishment Blade, his expression somewhat despondent. He began to explain slowly, "In the Ancient Era, Chiyou, the leader of the Jiuli Tribe, was defeated and slain by the Yellow Emperor in the Battle of Zhulu. His people dispersed, later migrating to places like the Southern Sky."

"Although Chiyou was slain and his body buried in Zhulu County, his weapon, Tiger Soul, disappeared without a trace."

Liang Sheng exclaimed, "Daoist Master, are you saying this Heavenly Punishment Blade is Great God Chiyou's weapon, Tiger Soul?"

He couldn't help but be astonished. Even though Chiyou was a mythical figure shrouded in mystery, historical texts did reference his existence. His weapon, Tiger Soul, was a divine blade he had personally forged by fusing his mount, a battle tiger, with an object from beyond the heavens. If the blade before him was indeed the legendary Tiger Soul, Liang Sheng felt his life would be complete. An ordinary person might never even see such a thing, yet he had secretly touched it just a moment ago.

Daoist Master Qing Yu gave a wry smile. "You're overthinking things. How could a mortal like me possess a divine weapon like Tiger Soul?"

"Legend says that one night during the war between Great God Chiyou and the Yellow Emperor, Chiyou saw something fall from the sky. He quickly gave chase and discovered it was an unknown demonic beast. The beast was ferocious and brutal, devouring any human it encountered without a trace. Chiyou couldn't help but think that if he could refine this beast into a weapon, its power would surely be immense."

"Chiyou's mount, the battle tiger, thought its master was in danger and rushed to protect him. However, Chiyou, afraid of damaging his potential future weapon, instead merged the battle tiger and the demonic beast into one, naming it Tiger Soul."

Even though it was just a legend, the group listened with rapt attention.

Daoist Master Qing Yu caressed the Heavenly Punishment Blade and continued, "After Chiyou's defeat, the whereabouts of Tiger Soul became unknown. However, rumors claimed the blade had shattered into countless pieces during the great battle, and its meteoritic iron dispersed into numerous fragments, vanishing in all directions."

"According to the oral tradition passed down by Chiyou's direct descendants, they collected the fragments of the Tiger Soul blade and used them to forge several divine weapons. This Heavenly Punishment Blade is one of them."

As soon as Qing Yu finished, Liang Sheng's eyes widened as he stared at him. "Daoist Master, are you saying this Heavenly Punishment Blade was forged using fragments of the Tiger Soul blade?"

"Indeed," Qing Yu explained. "Great God Chiyou was adept at forging weapons. Throughout his life, he crafted countless famous divine weapons. Even after being slain by the Yellow Emperor, the Yellow Emperor still referred to him as the 'Master of Arms'!"

Liang Shanshan's beautiful eyes widened as she asked, "Daoist Master, if this is a weapon belonging to Chiyou's direct descendants, how do you know about it?"

"Shanshan, do not be impolite," Liang Sheng quickly scolded his daughter with a glare, afraid that Daoist Master Qing Yu might be displeased.

However, Lin Mu seemed to have a faint guess. Just as I thought.

Qing Yu gave a bitter smile and said, "To be honest, before I took up the monastic life, my secular surname was Li."

The Li surname, according to tradition, belongs to the direct descendants of Chiyou. With this revelation, the group's doubts were dispelled. No wonder Daoist Master Qing Yu had recognized the Heavenly Punishment Blade at a glance.

"I've heard that Chiyou was once an equal match for the Yellow Emperor. The reason for his defeat was that his weapon, Tiger Soul, turned on its master, giving the Yellow Emperor an opportunity to kill him," Lin Mu said, eyeing the Heavenly Punishment Blade with a flicker in his gaze.

With a heavy sigh, Qing Yu confirmed, "That is indeed true. After Great God Chiyou forged the divine weapon Tiger Soul, he discovered its tremendous ferocity in his battle against the Yellow Emperor. The two fought more and more valiantly as the land became soaked in blood. However, Tiger Soul was not only a lethal weapon against his enemies, but it could also harm its owner. This weakness, combined with the Yellow Emperor's assault, led to Chiyou's defeat and death."

As he spoke of these recorded events, Qing Yu's face was filled with regret. The ways of the world were often so strange. In those years, Great God Chiyou had forged Tiger Soul by combining his battle tiger with celestial iron, and while it gave him a divine weapon, he was ultimately undone by its backlash. It really was a matter of timing and fate.

"No wonder," Lin Mu muttered softly to himself.

"No wonder what?" Liang Shanshan's ears were sharp, and she had caught his words.

Lin Mu smiled. "Qing Yu, this blade is still heavy with malevolent energy. If you wish to use it, it must first be tempered."

Qing Yu was startled; he hadn't noticed.

After a moment's thought, Lin Mu said, "Never mind. I'll teach you a refinement technique now. After some time, the malevolent energy within the blade will naturally dissipate."

Qing Yu was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master."

Lin Mu shook his head. "It's what you've earned."

"Then, Mr. Lin, we'll take our leave," Liang Sheng said, preparing to exit.

"Why? I want to watch," Liang Shanshan said, not understanding.

Liang Sheng grabbed his daughter and said angrily, "How can you be so thoughtless, child? Mr. Lin is about to pass on a technique. Is that something an outsider should watch?"

"Pass on a technique?" Liang Shanshan looked suspiciously at Lin Mu. Does this guy really possess some profound martial prowess?

"There's no need," Lin Mu said, shaking his head. "This will be quick. Qing Yu, come here."

Qing Yu hurriedly approached Lin Mu and knelt respectfully.

Liang Shanshan watched this scene, somewhat shocked. Daoist Master Qing Yu is actually kneeling to this Lin Mu guy? Yet, Qing Yu did so with perfect poise.

Lin Mu closed his eyes slightly and searched his mind. Within a few seconds, he located a suitable refinement technique. Extending his finger, he touched it to the center of Qing Yu's brow.

Qing Yu felt his head swell as a tide of memories washed over him. He suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with utter shock. The memory that had just flooded his mind was composed of countless tiny golden characters, each as fine as a gnat, yet every single one contained a wondrous power.

"This is the Divine Weapon Tempering Technique. It can refine any weapon in the world and make it recognize its master," Lin Mu stated calmly.

"Thank you, Master!" Qing Yu kowtowed, pressing his forehead to the ground.

Seeing this, a thought suddenly struck Lin Mu. "Qing Yu, would you be willing to become my disciple?"

As soon as he spoke, not only was Qing Yu stunned, but Liang Shanshan was also staring at Lin Mu, dumbfounded. He just casually touched the Daoist Master and that counts as passing on a technique? Now he wants to take him as a disciple? Is he even qualified?

However, Qing Yu's expression was ecstatic as he exclaimed, "I am willing! I am willing!"

He then kowtowed three times with loud thuds.

"Disciple Qing Yu pays respect to Master!"

Lin Mu nodded. "Since you have taken me as your master, I shall pass on to you another art, the 'Heavenly Emperor Nine Steps'!"

"This technique must not be revealed to outsiders, or it will bring a lethal disaster upon you!"

Qing Yu felt an even more massive surge of memory flood his mind. In his mind's eye stood a towering Dharma Body, a figure that touched the heavens and stood firm on the earth, demonstrating profound divine skills.

"Disciple Qing Yu shall heed Master's command!"

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